Buying clothes for grandchildren

My Canadian DIL is very pleased with the baby clothes i send for my grandson. She says they are far better than baby clothes in Canada.

Our daughter is a single parent, and every winter they both get kitted out coat,boots hats and gloves. While we can afford we help out as much as we can, in all manner of ways

I was out shopping today and saw something that I thought would be suitable for my GC and so phoned DDIL to ask if it was needed. I photographed it, texted it and she immediately confirmed it was perfect. Then she asked if they'd got another item that was also needed so I photographed a couple of items, she texted back to confirm which one and so I got them. I've since had photos back showing both GC wearing their new clothes, so at least I know they're exactly what's wanted. never did get anything for myself though

I've made so many dresses for my 4 year old GD since her birth but never seem to get the genuine thanks from my DS and DDil that I expect. I suppose they don't realise how much effort goes into making them! I'm sticking to sewing things for me now!!

I buy clothes for my little 17 month GS and his parents seem to be thrilled and I see him wearing them regularly. That makes me happy.

DGD, DDiL and I are often seen similarly dressed, so, even though DGD is now 9, I can still buy odd items of clothes for her and be reasonably sure she will like them. My last purchase was some deep rose pink leggings.

The big problem is if I buy for DGD I must buy for DGS. Like many boys he has no interest in clothes whatsoever - and given how dull and boring most boys clothes are that is not surprising. So having given DGD an item of clothing that she is delighted with, poor DGS is underwhelmed by the unexciting item he gets.

Have I ever got it wrong, you bet. When DGD was 5 I bought a lovely pair of mid grey fleece-lined boots in Sainsburies. I produced them from my bag, like a rabbit from a hat. She gave them one glance said: I do not like grey' and walked off, to her poor mother's embarrassment. Fortunately they were swapped for a pink pair (ugh) and she was all smiles.

If you don't see them wearing the clothes that you have made/bought it doesn't mean that they are never worn, just not the day that you see them.

I often buy clothes for DGC, I buy what I know they would like ( I see them all the time) but I also make sure that the clothes are what their Mothers like as well, and as I know their tastes in children clothes, that makes it easy.
They always seem pleased with them.
Now that the eldest is 12, it gets harder, but he seems to wear anything that I buy.

I buy an outfit at birthday / Christmas time for the little ones but once they reach say, 8, I give them some money to put towards something of their own choice.

My OH's Mother used to buy old fashioned coats (such as Prince Charles used to wear) for my children, and his Aunt kept buying old fashioned shoes. I did understand that they wanted to help, and that was appreciated, but I did not like their choice. So I put my foot down, in a nice way, and asked that instead of choosing the clothes themselves would they mind giving me the money instead so I could buy what I liked to dress them in; that happened to be the casual look with T-shirts,jumpers and denims for during the day and smart clothes for going out. They were shocked no doubt, but they agreed and quite happy with what I chose to dress them in. Peace restored! Money not wasted.

I remembered this when I knitted jumpers for my new Grandson but never saw him wearing them. So I didn't knit any more. Recently one of them was worn by his new little brother! I realised that I had knitted the wrong size after all so the mistake was mine. I was really pleased. Maybe I should ask the size and what she would like me to knit for them next time, if anything?

My DD has told me that she doesn't want me (or anyone else) buying her DD clothes because she wants to buy what she likes and doesn't want her to wear what other people buy or for it to sit in the cupboard being wasted. Her MIL won't be told and incenses my daughter by buying her clothes to wear at her house. My DD just won't accept that as the mother of boys, being able to buy a girl pretty stuff is something that gives her MIL pleasure. My DD tells me how grateful she is that I actually listen to her but the reality is that I was fed up with watching clothes either being unworn or even worse, them being worn and dyed funny colours whenever they got washed. Besides, 9 times out of ten they were terribly crumpled where they hadn't been ironed! I'll save my money and give my DGD my time instead.

I'm so pleased to see this thread. I thought I was the only grandmother who can't buy clothes for her grandson. He's two and a half now but when he was about nine months I bought him an anorak which DD and DSiL gave back to me as, "By the time it fits him it will be summer and he won't need it". Unfortunately, they saw I was upset but it is now a standing-joke and they often ask for it back. But I will never buy anything spontaneously again - just sometimes pay for things if I'm shopping with DD.

DGS is at my home at least once a week. I don't buy 'main' clothes for him - Mum and Dad usually buy from Next, Gap etc - but I do keep some bits here for emergencies. These are usually bought from M&S sale. Argos/Sainsbury's or Primark. Had a clearout the other day and now only have 2 pairs of underpants and 1 pair of comfy (sweatshirt-type) shorts that still fit him! Obviously I'll have to go shopping again but he's getting a bit fussy about what he'll wear (7 years old!) and because of autism is an absolute nightmare in a shop, unless I can lift him into a trolley!

When the gc were younger and often came to stay or go away camping with us I would always keep a load of clothes at house, usually bought from our posh charity shops. My son and dil would always let the children do their own packing from a very, very young age and I would find that they had arrived with unsuitable clothes! Even now in their teens they will ring and ask me if I can go to my favourite shops and find them something and I must say I nearly always get it it right.

As a grandmother of many grandchilren, the eldest is 31 and about to become a father himself, I long ago gave up buying clothes or knitting for them. I now live abroad so money is paid into their savings accounts if they have them. My grandson's partner has been buying so many clothes already so when I go to visit them when he has been born I shall give them a cheque payable to him so they can open a savings account for him. Perhaps I am just jaded by having so many grandchildren. The Warners advert has just made me smile about how much we love the grandchildren but just not here.

I leave the labels in so they can be changed. D D and S I L. were very anti pink but two year old has now decided she loves pink!

I don't even buy clothes for my husband! Tradition is that I buy school uniforms as 'badged' sweaters and blazers ate so expensdexpensdive while trousers and shirts are cheap!

I just but Next & get gift receipts. Then they can be changed easily.
Now the boys are a bit older I know they have to have logos so I check what is 'in'.
At the moment it is Hype which is not expensive. Once it gets to designer they are on their own!

I buy clothes for grandson and granddaughter all year to take to Canada for our yearly visit. Often in M&S sale, sometimes Sainsbury's or Tesco's. Granddaughter is always thrilled and loves to see what new outfits she has. Grandson not so enthusiastic about clothes but loves the toy bits and pieces we take. My son and DiL are always appreciative and very grateful. Think they also like that
the clothes are a bit different to the ones in their local shops.

I've rarely bought clothes for my two granddaughters as the other grandmother buys things regularly so I leave it to her as she seems more confident in knowing what to get them.

It's a rare event but if I ever see something which I think is wonderful I always pop the receipt in the bag! That way they can take it back & chose something the mummies like!

If I'm honest I would much rather buy 'stuff' for myself. Naughty Grandma ....

I scour the charity shops for new or barely worn things for my GD. I mind her after school and nearly every day she puts something "new" on to go home. It's a win win for me and her mum, who barely has time to go clothes shopping.

Whenever I buy clothes for my DGC I always get a gift receipt and make it clear that I have no problem if they want to change them for whatever reason. Not everyone has the same taste so if anything gets changed I don't mind in the least and they don't need to feel guilty if they don't like something I've bought!

When buying clothes for my Grandchildren I always ask for a gift receipt, then they can always return or exchange if it's unsuitable.

Gosh, this was a huge learning curve for me and I think I was very guilty of selfishly buying what I would like to see them in. I had such pleasure from those purchases. In my defence, I NEVER 'expected' to see the items being worn (maybe just kinda hoped?). I think I had this ridiculous notion that since I was paying no-one was suffering. Wrong! I have completely different ideas from son's partner in that arena. I now defer to her completely and ask if there's anything specific the children need. I don't often like the way they're dressed but - who cares - I love what's inside the wrapping. A learning curve indeed this grandparenting but wouldn't change it for the world.

Oh Magsie! That made me chuckle. I know exactly what you mean!!